Introducing: The Prototypes

Introducing: The Prototypes

5 September, 2011 | 3.44AM

• Written by: Sean Lewis
• Filed under: Music News: drum & bass, introducing, roni size, the prototypes

Tipped by no less an authority than Roni Size, and named amongst ATM Magazine’s 2010 “Leaders of the Nu-Skool,” Shogun Audio artists The Prototypes are rapidly ascending through the drum ‘n’ bass scene, from their remixes for the likes of Jammer and DJ Vadim to singles like “Cascade” and “Outcast.” This week they continue their stratospheric journey with the aptly named ”Born to Rise” EP.

Read on as we chat with Chris and Nick, the brilliant young minds behind The Prototypes.

How did you guys get started DJing and making music?

Chris: I started making music from an early age, mainly on my guitar or something like that. Then I started mucking around with my brother’s 4-track tape recorder when I was about 14, and I first realized the potential of computers. When I was 16 or 17, my music teacher at school showed me Reason (v1!), and everything else is history. I started DJing after I won some vinyl at a rave in Brighton—I didn’t have decks when I won them, so I had to play them on my mum’s old-school record player one at a time!

When you perform live, what’s your preferred setup, and how do you work together? How would you describe your sets?

Nick: Our preferred setup is three CDJs and a Pioneer DJM600, just because the filters and effects on that are so easy and clear to use. If we had to describe our sets, it’s energy, power, and some epic shizz!

Did you have any mentors when you were starting out? Who helped you get heard and established?

Chris: Roni Size and Sub Focus were the first two major supporters we had. Roni Size was the first person to support our music, and it was an incredible feeling to have such a legend show you love. When Sub Focus opened his mix with “Cascade” on Fabio & Grooverider’s show in late 2010, it was just mindblowing! We also sent Luke from UKF “Evolution” and he whacked it up! That was also amazing, UKF really is a great thing. If Luke doesn’t like what he’s listening to he won’t put it up, it doesn’t matter who you are or who you aren’t. It’s not about money with him; it’s about the music.
Friction, Andy C, Fresh, Adam F, J Majik & Wickaman.

When did you first feel that you had finally discovered your own signature sound as a group?

Nick: When “Cascade” dropped!

How would you describe the sound you produce?

Chris: Epic and Powerful

When you sit down to make a track, what’s the first thing you typically do? How long does a track typically take you to make?

Nick: It will either be the drums, or a musical idea or something. It can take us anywhere from two minutes to two years!!  Depends what you’re doing, and doing it until it’s right.

Do you currently have a favorite piece of gear or software?

Nick: A plugin called Sausage Fattener is great to get that extra power and fatness, but it’s gotta be Cubase for us as the number-one piece of software.

How do you explain your music to your family members?

Nick: Ha ha! My family are pretty clued up on what we do—they have all the vinyl, etc., so we don’t need to explain. My mum is a fortified d’n’b head now.

Are you morning people or night owls?

Chris: Nick’s a morning person; I’m a night owl at heart.

Is there a record you wish you had made?

DJ Trace – “Sonar”

What literally makes you “prototypes”?

Nick: I guess our willingness to try new things in the studio and try to push new sounds.

The big room DnB tracks that really set the club off seem to represent The Prototypes’ sound. Do you foresee any evolution in what type of sound will begin to take over the dancefloors? Do you see yourselves experimenting with any other genres?

We have already touched on different genres with a track off the new EP entitled “Taking Me Over,” and we intend to explore more downtempo stuff for the album. At the moment we are trying to keep our sound moving forward and are very conscious to make sure it’s the best that it can possibly be, as the standard of big dancefloor tunes is so, so high.

When you’re not listening to electronic music, what do you listen to?

Chris: Mainly to rock or heavy metal.

Nick: Garage, hip hop, soul, dubstep and loads more.

If you weren’t musicians, what would you be doing with your lives?

Chris: I would probably be a teacher. 

Nick: Would still be involved in the music industry, either as an events manager or an artist manager.

Tell us about your upcoming gigs and releases…

Chris: Our brand new EP, “Born to Rise,” is out on Beatport and the rest of the UK on September 5, and some top-secret remixes will follow soon. You can catch us touring soon in Cambridge, Bristol, London & Europe!

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